No Mics, No Money? Why Black Canadian Podcasters Shouldn’t Stay Quiet About This
By Sherley Joseph for Northern Voices | blkpodnews.com
Canada loves to call itself inclusive. But when it comes to podcasting—the mic, the money, the mentions? Black Canadian creators are still treated like an afterthought.
We’re barely in the room at industry conferences.
We’re missing from most podcast studies.
And when those “Top Podcast Leaders” lists drop? Crickets. But that’s another article for another day.
Meanwhile, we’re over here building full shows on fumes—editing on our lunch breaks, teaching ourselves marketing, and showing up for our audiences week after week without the backing or the bag.
So when Roger Nairn (CEO of JAR Audio) dropped an open letter last week calling out the government for ghosting podcasting in Canadian cultural policy? I had to lean in. Because he’s not wrong.
“Yes — the CBC is essential and outstanding. But it can’t be the only public pathway to audio storytelling. And corporate funding can’t be the only alternative. That leaves too many creators out, and too many vital stories untold.
The timing couldn’t be more urgent.
Meta has blocked Canadian news content. U.S. podcasts dominate our charts. And for many Canadians, podcasts are now a key source of trusted news, civic storytelling, and public dialogue.”
— Roger Nairn
Here’s What’s Going On
Canadian podcasting is growing fast. But our government funding?
Nonexistent. Right now, we’ve got:
❌ No podcast fund—not for audio, not for video
❌ No CMF (Canada Media Fund) support for podcast creators
❌ No recognition of podcasts as real labour in cultural policy
❌ No support structure for creators outside of CBC or corporate-backed projects
And let’s keep it real—when funding is available? It rarely reaches us.
If You’re a Black Podcaster in Canada, This Hits Different
You’re probably:
The host, the editor, the marketer, and the strategist
Fronting all the costs out of pocket
Juggling your show with a 9–5, family, or freelance gigs
Still figuring out how to grow without selling out
Still no network that represent, hence why “The Chonilla Network” is changing and filling this gap.
And even when you do create something brilliant? There’s no support to scale. No grant to keep your team paid. No network helping your show get discovered.
Just hard work—and exhaustion.

Let’s Talk Numbers
12 million Canadians (39%) listen to podcasts monthly
22% of BIPOC in Canada listen to podcasts weekly. (More on this at Pod The North SCOOP: The State of Play for Black Canadian Podcasters)
Francophone listenership grew 65% (2019–2023)
Global podcast revenue hit $7.3B USD in 2024
But only 30% of Canada’s Top 30 podcasts are actually Canadian
So no—it’s not about talent. It’s about access. It’s about support. It’s about being seen as part of this country’s cultural infrastructure.
What This Letter Is Asking For
This isn’t just a call-out—it’s a call in.
The letter demands:
A dedicated federal podcast fund
Updated CMF criteria to include podcasting (audio + video)
A national consultation with creators (yes, us)
That podcasting be included in labour force surveys, so our work is counted and valued
Because we’re not just hobbyists with a mic.
We’re producers. We’re storytellers. We are culture.
“I’m tired of watching my peers produce powerful, healing, hilarious, honest shows—without the resources to scale. Canadian podcasting needs to be funded, and Black Canadian creators need to be part of that future.”
— Sherley Joseph
Here's How You Can Get Involved
🔗 Sign the open letter: https://docs.google.com/forms
Tag your podcast fam and get them to sign too.
Talk about it on your show—let your listeners know what’s at stake.
Email your MP and ask what they’re doing to support Canadian podcasting and new media equity.
Canadian podcasters aren’t waiting for permission—we’ve been doing the work. But let’s be clear:
We deserve the funding, the infrastructure, and the spotlight too.
We’re not asking for favours. We’re asking for fairness.
Let’s make noise—not just in our episodes, but in policy rooms too.
Want to be featured in a future issue of Northern Voices?
Send your story, wins, show launches, or collabs to: blackcanadiancc@gmail.com